For the first time in its 50-year history, the New York Film Festival will debut in 3-D with Opening Night selection Life of Pi. Directed by Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Brokeback Mountain), the movie adaptation of Yann Martel’s bestselling novel from 2001 tells the magical realist tale of a young boy lost at sea with no company save for a Bengali tiger.

“I am both delighted and honored to be back at the New York Film Festival with Life of Pi,” Lee said today upon hearing the announcement. “I have the deepest respect for [NYFF curator] Richard Peña and his team…I am also excited because this is my hometown, and to be unveiling this film that I am so proud of here is a real pleasure.” Tickets to the New York Film Festival, which runs September 28 through October 14, go on sale to the general public on September 9.

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